Idaho's Basque heritage license plate gets death penalty

An Idaho license plate that depicts a sheep camp on the left and indicates "BASQUE" at the bottom of the plate failed to meet minimum sales thresholds and will no longer be available after July 1.

The Basque sheep camp license plate was at risk of being discontinued if more applications were not received by last March, the Idaho State Dept. of Transportation had notified the Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Culture.

The first Basque immigrant sheepherders lived in camp wagons during their long stays in Idaho's mountains. First approved in 2005, the Basque license plate was a tribute to the Basque heritage of a large part of the Idahoans and Boiseans.

In addition to normal vehicle registration fees, this customized plate cost an additional $35 for the first year with an additional $25 renewal fee each year thereafter. A portion of these fees went to the Cenarrusa Foundation for Basque Culture and were cycled back out to support Basque programs all over the state through annual Community Grants.

During 2008, Foundation funds supported 12 projects from dance costumes for the Gooding Basque Club's children's group, to funds for AV equipment storage in Homedale, to funds for exhibits at the Basque Museum, tuition assistance at the Ikastola, and cable for live broadcasts of games in the Fronton in Boise.